VP Harris urges ‘immediate ceasefire,’ says Gaza ‘humanitarian catastrophe’
“Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire, for at least the next six weeks,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a speech Sunday in Selma, Alabama.
In the toughest remarks by the U.S. administration to date on Israeli restrictions that have contributed to a famine in Gaza, Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday said there must be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least the next six weeks, called the humanitarian situation in Gaza a “catastrophe,” and said there should be no more excuses from Israel for unnecessary restrictions on humanitarian aid.
“People in Gaza are starving,” Harris said, in remarks at the top of a previously scheduled speech she gave in Selma, Alabama, to mark the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettis Bridge, which helped make way for passage of the Voting Rights Act, and increased voting rights for Black Americans.
“The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid,” Harris said. “No excuses. They must open new border crossings . . . [and] not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid.”
Harris also called on Hamas to agree to a framework deal currently on the table in talks in Cairo, that would result in the release of vulnerable Israeli hostages kidnapped by the group in October in exchange for the release of some Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, and a six week ceasefire that would allow vastly more humanitarian aid to get into Gaza and be distributed there.
“Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire,” Harris said. “Well, there is a deal on the table.…Hamas needs to agree to that deal.”
“Let’s get a ceasefire,” Harris implored. “Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.”
Harris is due to meet Monday with Israeli opposition leader and former defense minister Benny Gantz, who currently serves as a member of the Israeli war cabinet. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly expressed resentment about the reception being afforded Gantz, whom he sees as a chief political rival, by the Biden White House, and Netanyahu’s office has indicated the visit is not authorized by him.
Israel “has only one prime minister,” a source close to Netanyahu was cited by Israeli news outlet Ynet.
Diplomatic understands that Gantz requested the visit and it was his idea, and the White House acquiesced, as Gantz presumably contemplates how long to remain in the unity government and war cabinet with Netanyahu that was put in place in the wake of the shocking Hamas massacre that killed 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7.
Gantz is also expected to meet with National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and members of Congress from both parties.
Israel on Sunday reportedly boycotted talks in Cairo on the ceasefire/hostage release deal, citing the failure by Hamas to provide a list of the hostages that are still alive and who would be released in the first phase if a new pause deal is reached.
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